Aria, Chapter 3 Summary

Richard's family and relatives start to call him Pocho, a Spanish word that means an American who forgets their native language, because he no longer speaks Spanish with confidence. Many family members continue to speak to Richard in Spanish, even if they could speak English. This was because they wanted Richard to speak and know his native language. Richard starts to recognize that he feels guilty speaking English. He blames himself for shattering the close bond his family had previously held. After some time, Richard starts to pick up on the tones and sounds of the English language, details he previously ignored. Richard learns that intimacy does exist in his home, after he realizes that intimacy is not created by language, but by those he is intimate with.